The NYPD Explains Why Their Bullets Wounded Nine People Yesterday (It's not their fault)

The Atlantic ^ | August 25, 2012 | Connor Simpson

[Ken H]

I would bet that the first reaction of even the harshest critics here when looking down the big barrel of a madman’s .45 would be to pull their own trigger first and keep pulling it until the threat is gone. Once this turned into a gun fight gut instinct took over and all of the options went out the window.

Garbage.

In post #140 I gave 2 examples of armed senior citizens - one a 65 yo granny - who acted coolly and calmly when face with armed hoodies. You didn't see them spraying bullets all over the place.

I can't recall any incidents where armed citizens have done so. Can you?

[fireman15]

I don't disagree that there are many people who might have handled similar situations better. There probably are some individuals who on a good day could have taken down the gunman with just a couple of well placed shots with no injured bystanders. Training no doubt aids in the development of such individuals. I am assuming that both you and I have concealed carry permits and that both of us hope that because of our training, frequent time at the range and past experiences that we would do better. But I have never looked down the barrel of a .45 held by a madman who just blew away some other guy so I am not prepared to say that I wouldn't react as the officers did.

I will repeat a true story... two soldiers one from North Vietnam and one from the United States were walking down the same trail in the jungle approaching one another. They came to the opposite ends of a log that crossed a small stream. As they began to cross the log each looked up and saw the other. They both drew their weapons and fired. Within just seconds their magazines were empty... each ran off screaming in the directions that they had come from. Neither was hit.

A friend of mine was just down the trail from the experienced soldier who had been walking point. The soldier had proved himself on previous occasions and was known to be an excellent marksman. He was caught by surprise and had a bad day fortunately he lived and learned. Sometimes when the bullets start flying things don't go the way you hope they would. My friend said his fellow soldier learned from the experience and went on to prove himself again in other battles.

If the gunman's .45 hadn't malfunctioned at least one of the officers most likely would have died. The officers put their lives on the line to stop this cold blooded murderer. The only ones dead are the murder and his victim. I hope the incident will help the NYPD and its officers to prevent further tragedy in the future.

[CodeToad]

Yeah, it is my view that the cops in NYC have been some of the worst criminals. Gee, I wonder where I get that idea.

[ReignOfError]

For that to account for the reported difference between Detroit and NYC, you would have to believe that the NYPD violently assaults about three thousand people a day.

Far be it for me to assail your beliefs with mere facts, though.

[stanne]

I just gotta say, after nearly a week, that was the rudest response I’ve read in 14 years of reading this forum. So disappointed with your claim to be special forces. I hope it’s not tue.

[Travis McGee]

Boo hoo. Did you miss the reply that provoked it?

[stanne]

It was the rudest response. Just saying. I don’t expect you to care, just letting you know I hate to think that my liberal friends and Hollywood people could be in some way correct for thinking you guys are brutes and not the genlemen some of us hope you are.

Whatever that’s worth to ya.

[Travis McGee]

When some retired donut eater on a fat govt pension tells me that I’d crap my pants when things get scary, unlike those heroic (cops like he used to be), it gets my dander up.

I hope your “liberal friends and Hollywood people” DO think we’re brutes. It “puts the skeer in ‘em,” and that is a good thing, to my thinking.

What you think, I could not care any less.

[stanne]

Then don’t reply.

You disappoint me.

I am more “one of you” than you think.

I think what you all engender is respect and that’s an awsome thing and with it plenty of fear.

That brute crap used to be reserved for the field.

Maybe you just hate cops.